Trace-holder.



B. G. MoKAY.

TRACE HOLDER.

APPLICATION Hum .124, 1908.

902,159. Patented 0ct.27,1908.

Swuewtoz L I Y 6 W 725% atknmuza UNITED STATES PATENT orrion BERNAL O.MCKAY, OF ATLANTA, NEW YORK.

TRACE-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Brennan C. MoKAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlanta, in the county of Steuben and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Trace-Holder, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to trace holders, which are devices fastened onthe ends of whilfietrees to prevent harness traces from slipping off orbeing disconnected therefrom.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which shall be strong, simple and cheap, of few parts andcapable of holding a harness trace in place on the end of a whiifietreewith great security.

A further object of the invention relates to the arrangemei'it of thespring for acting on the pivoted finger of the holder, whereby a strongtension is maintained to prevent said. pivoted finger from moving out ofplace by the jars and strains on the Whittletree or the finger itself.

lVith these objects in view, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafterdescribed and claimed reference being had to the accompanying drawing,in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved trace holderfastened. on the end of a whifiietree, the trace being shown in dottedlines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the trace holder, the frame beingshown in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 4 is across section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals are used for the same parts in all thefigures.

The casing or frame 1 of the trace holder is preferably made of sheetmetal stamped and shaped by suitable machinery into the form shown,which comprises two spaced vertical side plates 2, 2, parallel to eachother and each having a base flange 3 at a right angle to its respectiveplate extending outwardly therefrom. The side plates 2 are inclined atthe top from one end to the other, and connected by an integral cover 4extending from the lower ends of the plates nearly to the limit of thehigher ends. The lower end of the cover 4 has an extension or tail 5which, when the parts are assembled, is turned under the cover 4 to holdthe spring 6. Between the higher ends of the plates 2 is placed one endof a curved Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 24, 1908.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Serial No. 412,463.

5 swinging finger 7, pivoted on a pin 8 passing through a hole in eachside plate and riveted. curved concentrically with the pin 8.

The swinging finger 7 is made with a curved intermediate portion 9having on one end a hub 10, through which the pivot pin 8 passes, andits other end straight to rest on the whiftletree and form an abutmentfor the trace end. The hub 10 is curved on its upper and lower edges andpasses below the cover 4 in close relation therewith to prevent theentrance of moisture and dirt. A notch 11 is made in the rear of the hubto receive the free end of the fiat spring 6 which holds the fingeragainst the whiffietree. A thumb piece 12 projects from the finger 7 bymeans of which it is raised to permit the passage of the trace end. Theposition of the notch 11 with respect to the axis of revolution of thefinger 7 and the line of the spring 6 is such that when the finger is inoperative position, the notch will be above the pivot of said finger andthe tension of the spring holds the point of the finger close againstthe whiffietree. When the trace end is to be forced on, or removed fromthe whiflietree, the finger is raised to the position shown by dottedlines in Fig. 2. This movement carries the notch 11 below the pivot pinand the finger is held in elevated position by the resiliency of thespring acting on the finger below its axis. The base flanges 3 on theside plates 2 project outwardly therefrom at their longitudinal centerssufficiently far to enable fastening screws 13 to pass through them intothe whiifletree and tapering thence in each direction to the ends of theframe or casing 1.

The operation of the device is self evident and a detailed descriptionthereof will not be necessary. The hub 10 is as wide as the spacebetween the plates 2 and. as its lower and upper edges lie close to thewhifiietree and cover 4, respectively, dirt, mud and moisture is therebyprevented from entering the casing, thus protecting the parts frombecoming clogged and rendered noneffective by foreign substancesentering the casing and between the movable parts. The free end of thespring rests in the notch in the hub of the finger and bears endwiseagainst the bottom of said notch, holding the finger against thewhifiletree or in elevated position. When the finger is raised the notchThe corners of said side plates are presses against the end of thespring which offers more resistance to the movement of the finger thanit would were pressure brought against the side of the spring. By thisarrangement the finger is held firmlv. either open or closed, with asmall spring.

I claim:

1. A trace holder comprising a hollow casing. a curved finger pivotedbetween the side plates of said casing at one end and having a notch inrear of its pivot, and a fiat spring attached to the other end of thecasing with its free end seated in said notch pressing endwise againstsaid finger and adapted to hold the latter in closed or open position.

2. A trace holder comprising an integraln stamped and folded casing orframe higher at one end than at the other, a finger pivoted between theside plates of said frame and closing the opening thereinto, and aspring fixed at one end to said casing with its free end engaging anotch in said curveu finger and pressing endwise against the same, saidfree end of the spring adapted to be carried across the pivot of saidfinger to hold said finger in either open or closed position when movedthereto.

- 3. A trace holder comprising an integrally stamped and folded casingor frame, the spaced sides of which are joined above by a downwardlyinclined cover having a projection on its lower end, a curved fingerhaving a hub on one end pivotally connected to said side plates andextending beneath the cover and in close relation thereto a notch beingformed in said hub below said cover, and a straight fiat spring fastenedto the frame by folding said projection inwardly and having its oppositeend seated in said notch and pressing against the hub in an endwisedirection.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BERNAL C. MOKAY.

Vitnesses i R. R. CLEMENT, HYATT C. I'IATCH.

